TILT TRAY SORTER ACCESSORY

ACCESSOIRE DE TRIEUSE A CORBEILLES A BASCULE

English Abstract

An accessory (10) for a tilt tray sorter comprises a frame (11) and
is adapted to be suspended by a fixture (12) from a transport mechanism
of the type usually associated with conventional parcel sorting
equipment. The frame (11) carries two or more tilting trays (14) which
are attached by pivots (15) to the frame (11). Each of the tilting trays
(14) has associated with it, a tilting mechanism (16) which comprises a
pair of parallel rods (17) suspended below each tray. In addition, a
bracket (18) is provided above each tray (14). The bracket carries a cam
(19). The cam (19) pivots about an upper axis (20). The side of the cam
which faces the tray (14) carries a stub (21). The stub (21) is received
between the parallel rods (17). Thus, as the cam (19) pivots and returns
to its rest position, the tray (14) is displaced from a level position to
a tipped position and back again.

French Abstract

Accessoire (10) pour dispositif de triage à plateaux culbutables. Il comporte un cadre (11) et peut être suspendu à partir d'un élément (12) faisant partie d'un mécanisme transporteur du type qui est normalement associé aux installations traditionnelles de triage de paquets. Le cadre (11) porte au moins deux plateaux culbutables (14) montés sur le cadre (11) par l'intermédiaire de pivots (15). Un mécanisme de pivotement (16) est associé à chacun de plateaux (14) et comporte une paire de tiges parallèles (17) sous-jacentes. Par ailleurs, une console (18) est montée au-dessus de chaque plateau (14) et porte une came (19) pouvant pivoter autour d'un axe supérieur (20). La came porte un tenon (21) sur le côté qui se trouve en regard du plateau (14), ledit tenon (21) étant reçu entre les tiges parallèles (17). Ainsi, à mesure que la came (19) pivote et revient à sa position de repos, le plateau (14) passe de sa position horizontale à une position inclinée puis retourne à la position de départ.

Claims

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CLAIMS

1. A sorting system comprising a loading station and at least one receiving
station
spaced from the loading station, a transport mechanism arranged between said
loading station
and said at least one receiving station a pendant frame suspended from said
transport
mechanism and moving between said loading station and said at least one
receiving station,
two or more tilting trays mounted on said frame at different levels, one above
the other, an
independent tipping mechanism associated with each tray for tipping the tray
and two or more
actuating mechanisms at said at least one receiving station arranged at
different levels
corresponding to the levels at which said two or more trays are mounted on
said frame, each
actuating mechanism independently, selectively actuating the tipping mechanism
of the tray
mounted on the frame at the corresponding level.
2. An accessory according to claim 1, wherein the frame is provided with three
trays each arranged to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis with
respect to the frame.
3. An accessory according to claim 1 or, wherein each independent tipping
mechanism comprises a cam member pivotally mounted on the frame and engaging a
cam
engaging means on the tray, whereby when the cam member is pivoted, the tray
is tipped.
4. An accessory according to claim 3, wherein the cam member comprises a
pivoting plate provided with an arm member which engages between two rods
mounted on an
underside of the tray.
5. An accessory according to claim 4, wherein the actuating mechanism
comprises
a cam actuator and the pivoting plate is arranged for riding over the cam
actuator and pivoting
the cam member, whereby tipping the tray.
6. An accessory according to claim 1, wherein each tipping mechanism is
provided
with means for keeping the tray in a tipped position until released.



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7. An accessory accord ng to claim 6, wherein the means for keeping the tray
in a
tipped position comprises a latch to hold the cam member in a pivoted position
so that the tray
remains tipped until the latch is released.
8. A sorting system comprising:
a loading station;
an outlet station;
a frame having upper and lower portions;
transport means for supporting the frame pendantly from the upper portion of
the frame
and transporting the frame from the loading station to the outlet station;
at least two trays mounted on the lower portion of the frame at respective
levels tippably
about respective axes that are parallel to the transporting;
tipp ng means respectively for each of the trays, each of the tipping means
having first
means for holding its associated tray level and second mans for tipping the
associated tray; and
actuating means respectively for the trays at the outlet station at the
respective levels of
the trays, each of the actuating means operating the second means for tipping
its associated
tray when the transport means has transported the frame to the outlet station.

Description

- 1 - 20'0803.
TILT TRAY SORTER ACCESSORY
MELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to parcel sorting and more particularly to a
an accessory for a tilt tray sorter arrangement which would provide
multiple level sorting.
BACKGROUND OF ZHE INVENTION
Commercially available sorters consist of a transport system,
usually of a chain conveyor construction, which carries trays on the top
of an endless chain. These trays are loaded with items to be sorted,
carried to a selected outlet position and tipped, whereby the item
carried is dropped into a receptacle. The trays are reset before
re-entering the loading area. However, existing transport systems are
limited to a single level of trays. ,
One conventional tilt tray sorter generally comprises a moving
chain which can carry a tilting element which includes a tray and a
tilting mechanism. Such a parcel handling device, for example the 3D
Tilt Tray Sorter is available from Beumer Pty Limited, 293A Seaview Road,
Henley Beach, South Australia, 5022.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to substantially ameliorate some
of the disadvantages of prior art tilt tray sorters.
Accordingly, the invention provides an accessory for a tilt tray
sorter including a transport mechanism, the accessory comprising a frame
rihich carries two or more tilting trays arranged one above the other, an
independent tipping mechanism associated with each tray for tipping the
tray and mounting means on the frame for mounting the accessory on the
transport mechanism.
In a preferred embodiment, the frame is provided with three trays
each arranged to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis with respect
to the frame. Preferably, each independent tipping mechanism comprises a
cam member pivotally mounted on the frame and engaging a cam engaging
means on the tray, whereby when the cam member is pivoted, the tray is
tipped. -~
The cam member preferably comprises a pivoting plate provided with
an arm member which engages between two rods mounted on an underside of
the tray. The pivoting plate is preferably arranged for riding over a
cam actuator provided on the sorter for pivoting the cam and therefore
tipping the tray. The cam actuator is selectively movable into a
position where the pivoting plate rides over the cam actuator.



- ~ - 2070$01
Preferably also, each tipping mechanism is provided with a latch to
hold the cam member in a pivoted position so that the tray remains tipped
until the latch is released.
_BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~J OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of an accessory for a tilt tray sorter according to
the invention will now be more fully described, by way of example, with
reference to the drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an accessory according to one
embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the accessory depicted in Figure 1.
~TAI~FD DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
As shown in Fig. 1, the accessory 10 according to one embodiment of
the present invention comprises a frame 11 and an upper fixture 12. The
accessory 10 is adapted to be suspended by the fixture 12 from a
transport mechanism of the type usually associated with conventional
parcel sorting equipment. If required, the frame 11 may include
additional means 13, located at the base of the frame 11 for fixing the
frame to guide rails or a second transport track to ensure that the frame
11 remains erect. The frame 11 carries two or more tilting trays 14
which are attached by pivots 15 to the frame 11. Each of the tilting
trays 14 has associated with~it, a tilting mechanism 16. The method used
to tip the trays, that is the tilting mechanism, may be any one of a
number of conventional tipping mechanisms presently in use. One,
particularly advantegous mechanism is described herein by way of example.
In this particular embodiment, the tilting mechanism comprises a
pair of parallel rods 17 which are suspended below each tray. In
addition, a bracket 18 is provided above each tray 14. The bracket
carries a cam 19. The cam 19 pivots about an upper axis 20. The side of
the cam which faces the tray 14 carries a stub 21. The stub 21 1s
received between the parallel rods 17. Thus, as the cam 19 pivots and
returns to its rest position, the tray 14 is displaced from a level
position to a tipped position and back again. The bracket 18 also
carries a~latch 22. The latch 22 pivots about an upper axis 23. The cam
19 carries, at a lower, end and on a side facing away from the tray 14,
first and second latching pins 24, 25. When the cam 19 is rotated
towards the latch, one or both pins 24, 25 engage a ramp surface 26 on a
lower end of the latch and cause the latch to pivot out of the way. The
first Latch pin 24 eventually contacts a flat surface of the latch thus



_ ; _ 2o~oso~
causing the latch to return to its original position and thereby causing
the latch to engage and retain the second latch pin 25.
As depicted in Fig. Z, the tilting trays 14 are normally in a Level
position. At a particular tipping station, they pass by a pneumatic
cylinder 27 which carries a round cam actuator 28 at the end of its
piston. If the piston is retracted, no contact is made between the cam
19 and the actuator 28. If the piston is extended, the cam 19 will ride
over the actuator 28 thus causing the tipping mechanism to displace the
tilting tray 14 from its normally level position.
At a separate location, the tray may be restored to the level
position, solely under the influence of gravity, by releasing the latch
mechanism from the second pin 25. This may be achieved in any
conventional manner. In a preferred embodiment, the side of the latch 22
which faces away from the tray 14 carries a short ramp 29 which is used
- 15 for this purpose.
While the present invention has been described with reference to
particular details of construction, these should be seen as having been
provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope of the
invention.

Representative Drawing